It has been great this week to meet a few more community members virtually and we are all getting excited about the dates drawing ever closer where we can all be together again! We are working hard on site to make sure everything is ready for the students when they return and that we can all enjoy end of year together.

RETURN TO ONSITE LEARNING: KEEPING SAFE AT SCHOOL

Despite the setbacks, we are still on track to stick to the road map and get all students back to school. Getting vaccinated is the best way to be protected from and prevent the spread of COVID-19. All staff working in schools will be required to have received a first dose COVID-19 vaccination by 18 October and to be fully vaccinated by 29 November.

At this stage, we are anticipating that parents will be allowed onsite when students return, although not in buildings please. Years P-4 will have to take students outside to be dismissed, but years 5 and 6 can be dismissed from the classroom. The following areas have been designated for pick up:

Prep students will be collected from the area in between the turf and the basketball court, near the Henry St gate.
Years 1 and 2 students will be collected from the asphalt near Hawthorn Road.
Years 3 and 4 will be collected from the turf near Helen St (formerly known as the ABC turf)

There will be no staggered dismissal times.

Vital COVIDSafe steps

The school will be taking as many precautions as possible to ensure that children can return to school in a safe environment. The following measures will help us all stay safe.

Social distancing: Limit mixing with other year levels, maintaining physical distancing where possible, using large spaces, limiting non-essential visitors and density limits in common areas
Face masks: Mandatory for all adults and students in years 3-6.
Hygiene and testing: Providing hand washing stations and encouraging students to wash hands regularly and at key points

Ventilation

As you might have heard through the media, the Department of Education and Training is investing in a Ventilation Program in schools, distributing 51,000 air purification devices across the state. Our school was selected as one of the first 100 trial schools in the program, which is exciting news. On Monday the 4th of October, an auditor visited the school site to conduct an assessment of our indoor ventilation in all rooms. We have not been given any further information at this stage in terms of a timeline of when we can expect air purification devices or how many we should expect. We will keep you updated as we receive information. In the interim, classroom windows and/or doors will be open in classrooms during the day and outdoor lessons are encouraged where possible and appropriate. All staff have completed professional learning on infection control in schools and regular hand washing is encouraged. Hand sanitizer is located in each classroom and office space for students and staff to use as necessary. Furthermore, you have likely heard that students from Grades 3-6 will be required to wear face masks when indoors on school premises. From Monday 18th of October, all students in Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be required to wear a face mask indoors at school. Exemptions apply under the following conditions: "Students with a physical or mental disability are not required to wear a face mask where their disability means it would not be suitable."

Please do not send children to school if they are sick and get a test even with the mildest of symptoms. We will continue to update you with more information as it becomes available.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

We are very excited to be able to rollout the BYOD (Bring your own device) program for our years 3 and 4 2022 students. Currently, we lease devices, but as the lease is ending, we have an exciting opportunity to upgrade access for our students. We will start with 3 and 4 this year, and over the coming years we will be able to extend this offer to students in years 3 to 6.

Remote learning has shown us the benefits that digital technologies can have when embedded into everyday teaching and learning and where students have ready access to the multitude of digital technologies that are available. These technologies will be used effectively to enhance the learning and teaching in all curriculum areas, to support collaborative and cooperative learning, to develop higher order thinking skills and to help all students to realise their potential.

Whilst using their computer in EVERY class is not optimal, having access to their own laptop allows…

• Students to have immediate access to new and varied information, ideas and perspectives.

• Effective collaboration opportunities via online applications – this allows (and promotes) collaboration beyond the school day.

• Development of organisational skills through online applications.

• Students to develop essential life skills. There is no doubt that students will need to be increasingly technologically literate beyond school.

• Students to become developers of their own content rather than just consumers.

• Additional support and information to assist learning

• Training in appropriate and safe use of their devices.

• Development of innovative and authentic learning experiences.

Detailed information will be sent out soon to families of students in years 3 and 4 in 2022.

CHILD SAFE

Northcote Primary School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making. Northcote Primary School has zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe, feel safe and that their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives.

Every person involved in Northcote Primary School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all that they do and every decision they make.

Have a great weekend!

Julie Andrews

Acting Principal

Prep Work